Passive terror: a multi-billion dollar business

According to the dictionaries and thesauruses, “terror” is synonymous with extreme fear, dread, horror, fright, alarm and panic.

Modern use of the word “terrorism” refers to the use of violence and intimidation to cause terror for the pursuit of political aims.

“Terrorists” are people who use terrorism to allegedly pursue their political objectives.

If terrorism instills fear, horror, anxiety and fright, I believe there are well-developed passive techniques that were created for goals other than political gain. Every day we see passive terrorism used domestically as an instrument of profitability to generate billions of dollars in revenue.

The biggest perpetrators of domestic terrorism do not go to work carrying automatic weapons while they dress in combat garb. They drive to their plush offices in exotic cars and dress in expensive, tailor-made suits.

Disguised as advertising and media executives, domestic terrorists and their associates instill more fear than all of the professional terrorists combined do. And they never fire a shot or carry a weapon. Their methods are passive and legal.

Think about it. When was the last time you saw a television commercial for a pharmaceutical product that didn’t make you feel anxious or concerned about your health?

How many times a day do you hear and see advertising that sounds something like this:

“If you are overweight, suffer from insomnia, mood swings, blurred vision, and/or occasional dizziness, you could be suffering from a serious illness called blahblah blah. See your physician and ask him to recommend Curitall and you’ll be able to play with your grandkids without fear of having to run to the bathroom every five minutes.” Sound familiar? I’m sure it does.

Pharmaceutical companies and manufacturers of health related products purchase the majority of television advertising time. Their commercials are designed to make you fear diseases and conditions that you may or may not have. That category of advertising is closely followed by insurance, fast food and beer.

The first two categories are created to cure you from the last two, which are designed to kill you. The insurance is used to protect you from anything that might happen if you are victimized by all four.

Before the age of mass communication, news traveled slowly at best. People living in rural areas where newspapers were all but nonexistent, didn’t hear about wars, disasters or elections for months, and sometimes years. Ignorance was bliss.

Today, professional terrorists depend on the media to tell the world of their dastardly deeds so they can effectively strike fear in the hearts of possible victims. Without help from the media, terrorists would be out of business.

We can also thank advertising and public relations agencies for glorifying drugs, alcohol use and irresponsible partying by celebrities. If these overnight millionaires leading the good life partake in those indulgences, what kid is not going to be curious about why they do that?

Exploring concepts and ideas, and satisfying curiosity is what kids do. It’s their job. Life is a learning experience. If advertising and media moguls peddle stories of these activities to the masses, then kids will want to know more about it.

By using celebrity lifestyles as models, these companies guide youth to believe that the images celebrities portray should be emulated. Young people create their personal images to mirror that of their favorite movie stars, recording artists and athletes. All celebrities are certainly not bad, but the ones that get the most publicity are usually the most controversial.

The passive terror mongers have even spawned an industry that is experiencing tremendous growth. Curing anxiety, depression, drug addiction, alcoholism, and phobias is big business. Therapists, counselors, social workers, and self-proclaimed life coaches are at the high end of the pay scale.

Drug and alcohol related clinics can cost more than $30,000 a month, and often require several revisits. According to the experts, all of these maladies stem from some kind of fear. People who are terrified by one or more aspects of their life want treatment.

How can we not be terrified when everything we hear, see or read every day is rife with rumors and threats that result in doom and gloom?

As long as we’re fighting terrorism, we might consider eliminating the passive terrorism generated by the real fear mongers. They make considerable profit and live very well by telling us we should be afraid of living in a system we can’t understand.